After five seasons of playing off-campus, ACU Baseball was thrilled on Jan. 22, 2026 to fulfill its long-awaited dream of playing baseball at home on its own campus field!
For most ACU athletic teams, moving from a small campus in north Phoenix to a much larger campus in Glendale was an opportunity to finally compete in on-campus venues. Football, softball and men’s and women’s soccer never had room for a campus home until the move to Glendale.
But for baseball, it was different. Baseball was the only program to give up a field with the move. When President Munsil arrived as president and threw out the opening pitch in program history in 2011, he vowed to build an on-campus field – and by 2012, thanks to ACU donors and the work of then-Athletic Director Don Mitchell, the baseball program had a beautiful grass field on Cactus Road where it played from 2012 through the 2018 season.
The hope when moving to Glendale in 2019 was to quickly complete all athletic fields, including a baseball complex in the northwest corner of campus. However, unexpected infrastructure costs, especially plumbing repairs, necessitated other spending priorities once the football, softball and multi-purpose fields were completed in 2021.
So for five years, ACU Baseball carried a vision that felt just out of reach. Seasons came and went, wins piled up, banners were earned, and history was made, yet one thing was missing. A true place to call home. This season, that wait is finally over, and the excitement across campus is palpable!
The new on-campus baseball field represents far more than turf, cages and lights. It represents perseverance. It represents belief. It represents a program that never slowed down, even when it had to borrow space and make someone else’s field feel like home. Coaches and players alike speak with gratitude and relief about what it means to finally run out of their own dugout, wear ACU across their chest, and play in front of their community. After five years of waiting, the field stands as a symbol of how far this program has come and where it is headed next.
That progress did not happen by accident. It was built by people, starting with a coaching staff that blends experience, loyalty, and deep love for the game. Head Coach Joe McDonald enters his eighth season leading ACU after more than three decades in baseball. With 469 career wins as a head coach and a background that includes playing and coaching at Western Oregon University before moving to Arizona in 2001, Coach McDonald has built a culture that is steady, competitive, and rooted in Christian purpose.
Alongside him is Associate Head Coach Mark Flatten, now in his sixth year at ACU. His journey includes stops at the University of Missouri and UT Arlington, as well as professional scouting experience with the Blue Jays and Pirates. That blend of college and professional insight has helped elevate the program’s recruiting and player development.
The pitching staff is guided by Jeff Osterode, a veteran coach with more than 35 years of experience and a former second round draft pick of the Mariners. His presence brings wisdom, calm, and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. Jacob Carson, now in his third year at ACU, adds a global perspective after playing and coaching professionally in Europe, while Marques Titialii, an ACU graduate from 2024, brings fresh energy as the hitting coach. An All American and record holder, Marques is still active in professional baseball and will return for his third pro season next summer, giving current players a living example of what is possible.
Development within the program is further strengthened by coaches who once wore the uniform themselves. Easton Babe is now in his fourth year and full-time with ACU, leading catchers. Tom Francis, in his 14th year, brings professional playing experience with the Giants and Padres. Brent Smith, a two-time All American and ACU graduate, leads development with a player-first mindset shaped by his own journey. Justin Ramires and Trey Tarver, both recent ACU graduates and record holders, continue that tradition, showing current players that success here lasts long after graduation.
The results speak loudly. ACU Baseball has been ranked in the top 15 nationally for the past two seasons and recorded the first 40-win season in program history. The team returned to the NAIA Opening Round and made a historic run to the World Series in 2024, finishing among the final five teams in the country. Eight players have moved on to professional baseball in just the past two years, and the program continues to excel in the classroom as an All-Academic team.
Individual performances added to that story. Senior left-handed pitcher Frank Wierman won 10 games in 2024 while striking out 109 batters. Senior center fielder Andrew Ivy has been a varsity mainstay for three years and a key part of the World Series team, emerging as the offensive leader poised to break records. Senior shortstop Jaylen Edmonds and senior right- handed pitcher R’Mani Adams both delivered strong varsity seasons and continue to anchor the roster with experience and consistency.
None of this came without challenges. Playing home games off campus tested the team’s flexibility and resilience. It is not easy to build rhythm, tradition, and pride when you are a guest in someone else’s space. Yet the players responded with maturity, positivity, and a commitment to keeping their standards and culture intact. That response made the arrival of the new field even sweeter. This season, ACU Baseball finally plays where it belongs – at home, on campus, in one of the best NAIA facilities in the country.
Faith continues to shape the heartbeat of the program. The team lives by a simple but powerful phrase, We Win Forever. Daily prayer, pregame chapels led by coaches and players, weekly player-led Bible studies, and intentional spiritual development are woven into the rhythm of the season. Last year, while in Florida, players handed out 100 Bibles to people in need, living out their faith beyond the field.
Stories of perseverance echo throughout the roster, none more powerful than Christian Lucero’s. A key pitcher on the 2024 World Series team with 30 appearances, second most all time at ACU, he dislocated his shoulder in the celebration pile after clinching a World Series berth. Today, he is fully recovered and preparing for his final season, bringing unmatched determination and gratitude to every practice and game.
As the new season approaches, excitement is high and expectations are clear. A strong core of veteran leaders is joined by talented transfers from Division I, Division II, and top junior colleges. Development remains the priority, not just as baseball players, but as men and Christ-followers prepared for life beyond the game.
When the first pitch was thrown on ACU’s new field on January 22nd, it carried five years of waiting, countless hours of work, and a community’s shared joy. This is more than a new chapter. It is the fulfillment of a promise and the beginning of something special, right at home.
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